Can breastfed babies go with mum to hospital?

[Breastfeedingwoes]

Baby 3m old. Ebf and cmpa. Never had a bottle.
I have mastitis again it’s really bad. On antibiotics but if no improvement in 24/48 hours I was told may need iv antibiotics
They’ll let my baby come too won’t they even with covid ? I’m so worried

As in the whole covid situation, not that baby has covid just to be clear !

Yes I am sure they will! Maybe call and see, explain baby is breastfed. Hope you feel better soon OP x

I’m hoping it starts to improve and the tablets work as I’m just so worried. I think there must be something wrong that I’m getting it so often I’ve had it nearly the whole time and I’m really fed up of it now
I’ll see how it goes and call them if it’s looking likely I’ll need to go but then I don’t want them to say no , so maybe if I have to go I’ll just take her and say I assumed she would be allowed as otherwise how can she be fed ? Plus I keep being told that directly feeding is better than pumping to clear any blockages
I just hope this is the last time as it make and feel like I have flu it’s horrible ☹️

You need to ring them; you can’t just show up with her.

I’ll see how I am I’m hoping tbh the antibiotics kick in and I can avoid it as I have no other option to feed her if I can’t take her too so I’m hoping I start to feel better

I was in hospital on IV antibiotics when my DC 2 was 4 months old. It was an unexpected emergency admission (sudden severe breathing difficulties, although it turned out I'd probably had bronchitis for some time without knowing) so no preparation time unfortunately.

My baby wasn't allowed to come with me and wouldn't have been allowed to breastfeed due to the specific antibiotics not being safe.

My husband had to buy bottles and formula and give him his first ever formula - luckily he took it without issue ... less luckily never having used formula he fed him 12 oz in one feed as I'd always breasted on demand and dc2 finished the first bottle and was looking for more - he was already off the charts size wise on breastmilk

I pumped while in hospital - my milk was green once the antibiotics were in my system so I am glad I wasn't breastfeeding while on them!

I can't remember exactly how long after coming off the IV I had to wait before my milk was safe again as it was 13 years ago, but I think 48 hours.

We were lucky and had a seemless transition back to breastfeeding - 3 or 4 months is old enough for them to usually be able to swap between the two, but its not guaranteed obviously.

My dc2 had formula for about 6 or 7 days in total and went back to exclusively breastfeeding from then until weaned onto food at 6 months (and no formula then, but obviously solid food as well as breastmilk).

It doesn't have to be the end of breastfeeding.

My experience had nothing to do with covid-19.

You'll have to phone and check.

I was poorly and potentially needed IV antibiotics when my DS1 was a tiny EBF baby, the hospital wouldn't admit me and him because I was the patient and he was over six weeks old and therefore i couldn't be admitted to the maternity unit apparently.

My friend had a similar experience (different hospital) and they admitted her and baby and they were in for a few days together. So it varies wildly

I’ve been admitted while breastfeeding both my younger two lo’s, one at 4 months old and one at 9 months old. With both I had a sign a disclaimer that I was solely responsible for the care and safety of my child and we had to provide safe sleeping arrangements.

You may be able to request out patient iv treatment, I was still bf whilst pregnant and needed iv fluids and hyperemesis treatment but because my breastfeeding child was over 12 months I couldn’t have her stay so the hospital arranged for my treatment to be daily out patient care within the gynae ward.

Can you buy allergy formula in the shops or does it have to be in a pharmacy or prescription? The dr told me they always give antibiotics safe for breastfeeding and that I have to keep feeding to drain blockages effectively as I’d asked do I need to pump milk at all and they said no it would make it worse as isn’t as effective ?

I don't think they will sorry. Your baby is too old for the maternity ward and I know people who've had mastitis before who had to stop whilst they were on the antibiotics x

They’ll probably say no but legally they can’t separate an exclusively breastfed baby from their mum. NICE guidelines specify baby must be kept with mum. Contact PALS and fight your case if you need to.

Fingers crossed these tablets work they’ve given me more this time and stronger dose so I’m hoping so. Before it’s been 7 days of 250 mg x4 a day this time 14 days of 500 mg x4 a day I’m wondering if the other times it didn’t kill all the bacteria which is why it’s lingered as always the same side

Breastfeedingwoes your situation may be different specifically because it's Mastitis. As others say, phone and check.

Unless anyone's been to exactly the same hospital for exactly the same reason within the last few weeks their answers may not apply to your exact situation!

Oh yes I suppose it could vary between trusts I just hoped there was some kind of universal rule about it I’m just so stressed and feel rubbish

The worst thing you can do if you have mastitis is stop breastfeeding. Nothing is as effective for clearing a blockage than your child feeding. The vast majority of antibiotics are safe for bf mothers (you can find lists online). The tiny amount that’s excreted in your milk would be much less than a child sized dose of the same antibiotic. You may notice some looser nappies, however you don’t need to stop or change the way you feed.

@Breastfeedingwoes there is a universal rule - under 6m EBF babies must be kept with mum. Even in covid times this hasn’t changed. The health of baby and mum require them to be kept together.

get well soon

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/16/mothers-needlessly-separated-babies-hospital-covid-rules

@BuffaloCauliflower really !! That’s so reassuring
I’ll look up the nice guidelines as mentioned above m too Thankyou

Our hospital allows breastfed babies to stay with mum, especially if you have mastitis as you’ll be encouraged to continue feeding.

If you’ve been struggling all this time why don’t you bottle feed. Hope you manage to get sorted and start recovering.

OP are you using breast compression, massage and warm treatment to help manage the blockage? There’s also specific positions baby can be in to help.

(Apologies if this is repeating things you already know)

Yes but it’s always the same place and in general since pregnancy that side has been swollen so I think there’s just something going on and making me prone to it. It is really getting me down tbh I am trying to keep going as her allergies are bad but not sure if I’ll get to a year like I wanted

@Lavenderfieldsofprovence for some people that will be what they choose, for others these issues are fleeting and manageable enough that the desire, will and commitment to carry on bf is worth it.

Whilst I can’t speak for the op, when I came up against many obstacles with bf I treated them as small periods of difficult times that could be managed, so continuing through it was very much worth it.